1

New Disciples Bible Study

Grace Life Center
Week 1

Topic: Understanding The Character of God

Following Jesus is ultimately about having a relationship with God. It is the only way to have a relationship
with God. But in other to have that relationship, we need to have the right perspective about God.

If God exists, then what do you think he is like? What is the first characteristic that enters your
mind? Why do you think that attribute came to your mind first?




Of all of Gods attributes, which one do you think is the most significant in that it will influence all
the others?



Isaiah 6:1-5 (NIV)
1In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his
robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their
faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one
another: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." 4 At the sound of their
voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. 5 "Woe to me!" I cried. "I
am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have
seen the King, the Lord Almighty."


What characteristic does the seraphim see as being all significant?


What does the word holy mean?


Holiness consists of two concepts:

1)


2)


Why do you think Isaiah responds the way he does in verse 5?


2


Isaiah became painfully aware of his own sinfulness as he stood before the Holy God. How would
you define sin?



Where do you think these insights leave us with regard to our relationship with God and our desire
to be followers of Jesus?




Hebrews 12:14 (NIV)
Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.



We have discussed the holiness of God but there are also a few other characteristics that we want to look
at in order to help us better understand our relationship with him and what it means to be a follower of
Jesus.



1) God is Just

Psalms 9:8 (NIV)
He will judge the world in righteousness; he will govern the peoples with justice.


What does it mean to say God is just? If God is just, then what are the implications with regard to
our sin?


2) God is Love

How is Gods love different from our love? What is Gods love based on if it is not based on our
performance? How does this impact how we follow Jesus?


1 John 4:10 (NLT)
This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to
take away our sins.

Romans 5:8 (NIV)
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

1 John 4:8 (NIV)
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.


3

What sort of things might I do that would cause God to love me less? What can I do to ensure God
will continue to love me, or to love me more?




How do you feel about the fact that you cant increase or diminish Gods love for you?





CONCLUDING THOUGHTS / SUMMARY:

What are the positive aspects of Gods holiness? What is the negative side of Gods holiness with
regard to us?



What are some examples of times we tend to question the goodness or holiness of God?



Is there any concept from this study that might affect your perspective about God or self?

HOME STUDY:

Read: The Gospel of Matthew: Chapters 1-7
In the New Testament there are four Gospels that each tell about the life and ministry of Jesus
Christ(Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). The word gospel simply means good news. Each of these four
authors are setting out to tell us the good news about Jesus Christ. Why do we need four accounts? Picture
a car accident that takes place at a busy intersection. On each corner of the intersection there is a person
that witnesses the accident and then tells others about what he saw. Each person, because of their
vantage point, will relate slightly different aspects of the story and, depending on who he is talking to, will
tell the story stressing different points. One person is presenting his account to a police officer, another to a
news reporter, another to his friends and family, and another to his church congregation as a sermon
illustration. Each story will be a true account of what happened, but different aspects of the story will be
stressed depending on the message the witness wants to convey and who he is addressing. The details
one would tell to the police office would be very different than the details one would draw out for his friends.


The gospel authors are writing to different groups of people and, therefore, also have a different purpose
for writing. Each narrative is complete for the purpose it was written, but when read together, they give us a
much richer understanding of the person of Jesus and what he came to accomplish. Matthew writes from
the perspective of Jesus being the King that should be followed. As you read it this week, pay attention to
the words, instructions that Jesus gives and pray for desire to follow them.